Microscope fabric comparison apparatus



g- 1965 E. c. BRIGHAM ETAL 3,203,303

MICRQSCOPE FABRIC COMPARISON APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1960 Edward 6. Brigham Edwin E Bailey m o A I M My 9% A 1965 E. c. BIRIGHAM ETAL 3, ,3

MI CROS COPE FABRI C COMPARI SON APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edward G Buy/ram Edw/h E Bailey 1 N VEN TORS United States Patent 3 203 see Mrcaoscorn sAnnrc ctiMPARrsoN APPARATUS Edward c. Brigham, 255s Pacific St, Bakersfield, Calif., and Edwin E. Bailey, 120 E. University St., Fresno,

Calif.

Filed Nov. 9, 1968, Ser. No. 68,282 3 Claims. (Cl. 88-14) This invention relates to apparatus for comparing and identifying fabrics, textiles, and other such materials by use of comparison microscopes.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide apparatus for comparing and identifying fabrics, textiles or the like in a more rapid and more convenient manner than was heretofore possible.

Another object of this invention is to provide a binocular fabric comparison and identification apparatus utilizing a pair of comparison microscopes which are independently vertically adjustable and wherein one of the microscopes is horizontally adjustable with respect to the other so as to view matched fabric samples. When the samples are matched, a single fabric will be viewed by the viewer in a stereoscopic manner.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a fabric comparison and identification apparatus housed within an illuminated closure having a corner slot disposed therein for more convenient insertion of a portion of fabric to be identified.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fabric comparison and identification apparatus utilizing a pair of comparison microscopes of conventional types which are so modified as to adjustably mount one of the microscopes for horizontal adjustment relative to the other which is fixedly mounted, said microscopes also having interconnected theretodirected illuminating devices providing equal illumination for both microscopes regardless of the horizontal position of one with respect to the other.

A still further object of this invention is to provide fabric identification apparatus featuring a reference wheel upon which a plurality of fabric samples are mounted so as to offer a rapid means for identifying fabric with which the reference fabric is matched by rotation of the reference wheel. The range of fabrics that may be identified is quite large in view of the removable and replaceable mounting of the reference wheel within the apparatus enclosure.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus made in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View taken substantially through a plane indicated by a section line 2-2 in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 3--3 in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially 3,203,388 Patented Aug. 31, 1965 "Ice or casing generally indicated by reference numeral 12 which includes a front face portion 14, a top portion 16, a side portion 18 and a back portion 20. Although one exemplary configuration of the enclosure 12 is illustrated,

it will be understood that other configurations for the A front portion 14 of the enclosure is a fabric identification chart 32 from which the fabric being compared may be identified from the data received from the indicia on the dial device 34 which is aligned with the reference pointer 36 inscribed or otherwise mounted on the front face portion 14 of the enclosure. On the side portion 18 of the enclosure, a horizontal adjustment control device generally indicated by reference numeral 38 is mounted for the purpose of horizontally adjusting the position of the microscope 28 with respect to microscope 26 in order to adjustably space the fields of vision or optical axes associated with the microscope units as will hereafter be explained.

From FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, it will be observed that the enclosure 12 has mounted therewithin at the bottom, a spotlight type of illumination source 40. Also mounted at each corner of the enclosure 12 therewithin is a reflecting mirror assembly 42 including the central portion 44 and side portions 46 disposed against the interior walls of the enclosure. It will therefore be apparent, that the interior of the enclosure will be well lighted with the reflecting mirror assemblies 42 concentrating the illumination at a central portion of the enclosure with the mirror thereby directing the illumination onto the fabric being compared within the enclosure.

In order to properly mount the microscopes 26 and 28 there is provided a transparent mounting plate member 48 which'is mounted within the enclosure by means of projections 50 therein projecting from the sides 18 of the enclosure for cooperation with slots in the sides of the mounting plate member 48. It will also be observed that the mounting plate 48 may be inserted into the enclosure 12 through the rear portion 20 which is hingedly connected to the enclosure by hinges 52, any suitable type of detent 54 being provided for holding the back portion 20 closed as illustrated. The microscopes 26 and 28 mounted on the plate 48 are of the conventional type including the vertical adjustment control 56. It will be noted however that the base 58 of the microscope 26 is fixedly mounted on the mounting plate 48 by means of any suitable fastener such as fastener 60 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3. The base 62 of the microscope 28 on the other hand, is adjustably mounted on the mounting plate 48 and accordingly has a guide lug 64 connected thereto for receiving a guide rod 66 fixed to the mounting plate 48 within the slot 68 as more clearly seen in through a plane indicated by section line 44 in FIG- FIGURES 2 and 4. In order to adjust the microscope 28 horizontally along the guide rod 66 within the slot 68, a second adjustment lug 70 is connected to the base 62 of the microscope 28 which lug 70 threadedly receives an adjustment screw shaft 72 forming part of the horizontal adjustment mechanism 38. Accordingly, the adjustment knob 74 of the horizontal control device 38 is mounted on the outside of the side portion 18 of the enclosure and may be rotated for rotation of the adjustment screw 72 to thereby horizontally shift the base 62 and the microscope 28 mounted thereon. As a result thereof, the microscope 28 may be horizontally spaced with respect to the microscope 26 which is fixedly mounted on the mounting plate 48.

The microscopes 26 and 28 are further modified by having mounted on the bases 58 and 62 thereof pivotal mounting members '76 and 78. A pair of directed illuminating devices 80 and 82 are respectively pivotally mounted on the members 76 and 78 and also pivotally interconnected by pin 84. It will therefore be appreciated that on horizontal movement of the microscope 28 with respect to the microscope 26 the illumination from the devices 80 and 82 will be equally directed onto the fabric samples disposed beneath the viewing lenses on the microscopes 26 and 28.

Disposed beneath the fixedly mounted microscope 26 is the reference fabric wheel 86. A slot 88 is disposed in the mounting plate 48 so as to expose the periphery of the wheel 86 lying beneath the microscope 26. It will therefore be observed more particularly from FIGURE that the wheel 86 has mounted on its periphery a plurality of fabric samples 90. The wheel 86 is therefore rotatably mounted in alignment with the microscope 26. Toward this end, the wheel 86 is connected to a shaft 92 which is rotatably mounted between a hanger 94 and an aperture in the front portion 14 of the enclosure so that its rotational axis substantially intersects the optical axis of the microscope 26 as seen in FIGURE 2. A wing nut element 96 may be threadedly engaged at the end of the shaft 92 so as to maintain the shaft 92 in assembled relation and provide easy means for disassembling the shaft and wheel 86 for replacement purposes. It will therefore be observed that connected to the shaft 96 on the outside of the front portion 14 of the enclosure is the dial 34 having for example a plurality of numbers thereon which cooperate with the indicating pointer 36 on the face of the enclosure portion 14 in order to indicate the number corresponding to the material or fabric on the periphery of the wheel 86 which lies beneath the microscope 26. Referring therefore to the chart 32 the fabric corresponding to the number on the dial aligned With the pointer 36 will be identified.

From the foregoing description, operation and utility of the apparatus of this invention will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated that the slot 30 which is disposed parallel to the mounting plate 48 and just above the mounting plate is conveniently arranged for insertion of a portion of the fabric to be identified. For example, if the material of some large garment is to be identified, it will not be necessary to cut a sample therefrom for comparison purposes. It will only be necessary to insert a portion of the material into the slot 30 and rotate the dial 36 until the fabric is matched with the sample of reference fabric 90 on the periphery of the wheel 86. When such matching occurs, and the microscope 28 has 5 been horizontally adjusted by means of the adjustment de vice 38 so that the viewer may view both samples of fabric simultaneously, a three dimensional impression of the fabric will be perceived by the viewer through the microscopes 26 and 28 constituting a stereoscopic effect. The fabric may then be identified from the chart 32 after the position number on the dial 34 is obtained corresponding to the fabric on the wheel 86 lying beneath the microscope 26. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that easy removal and replacement of the reference wheel 86 may be effected so that the range of fabrics that may be identified by the apparatus will be extended. Other important features of the apparatus include the transparency of the mounting plate 48 for better illumination and independent vertical adjustment for the microscopes 26 and 28 in order to accommodate differences in thickness of the reference and sample fabrics.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur ,to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A fabric comparison and identification apparatus comprising, light-confining enclosure means, comparison viewing means adjustably mounted within said enclosure means and extending upwardly therefrom for establishing spaced fields of vision within the enclosure means, reference fabric wheel means rotatably mounted within said enclosure means in operative relation to said viewing means for exposing reference fabric to one of said fields of vision, sample slot means disposed in said enclosure means for insertion of a portion of sample fabric into the other of said fields of vision of the viewing means, indicia means operatively connected to said wheel means for identifying the sample fabric in response to positioning of the Wheel means to a position wherein matched fabrics are simultaneously perceived from the spaced fields of vision through the viewing means, horizontal adjustment means mounted on the enclosure means and operatively connected to the viewing means for adjustably spacing said fields of vision to accommodate different spacings between viewers eyes whereby the viewing means may be conditioned for simultaneous inspection of the fabrics, and movable illumination means illuminating the reference fabric on the reference wheel means and the sample fabric in the sample slot means for all adjustment positions of the viewing means, said illumi nation means including two separate movable lamps interconnected with each other and the respective viewing means to move in concert therewith for illuminating said fabrics on the reference wheel means and in the sample slot means.

2. A fabric comparison and identification apparatus comprising, light-confining enclosure means, comparison viewing means adjustably mounted within said enclosure means and extending upwardly therefrom for establishing spaced fields of vision within the enclosure means, reference fabric wheel means rotatably mounted within said enclosure means in operative relation to said viewing means for exposing reference fabric to one of said fields of vision, sample slot means disposed in said enclosure means for insertion of a portion of sample fabric into the other of said fields of vision of the viewing means, indicia means operatively connected to said wheel means for identifying the sample fabric in response to positioning of the wheel means to a position wherein matched fabrics are simultaneously perceived from the spaced fields of vision through the viewing means, horizontal adjustment means mounted on the enclosure means and operatively connected to the viewing means for adjustably spacing said fields of vision to accommodate different spacings between viewers eyes whereby the viewing means may be conditioned for simultaneous inspection of the fabrics, interconnected movable illumination means directed toward the reference fabric on the reference wheel means and on the sample fabric in the sample slot means for all adjustment positions of the viewing means, stationary illumination means mounted in the enclosure means below the viewing means, corner reflecting means mounted in the enclosure means for reflecting said light onto the reference and sample fabrics, said viewing means including a pair of microscopes independently adjustable in a vertical direction for accommodating differences in thickness of the reference and sample fabrics, and transparent mounting plate means disposed below said sample slot means for adjustably supporting said viewing means Within the enclosure means, and a reference slot disposed in said plate means for exposing the reference fabric on the reference wheel to said one field of vision of the viewing means.

3. A fabric identification device comprising, illuminated enclosure means having top, side, front and back portions, transparent plate means mounted within said enclosure means, a reference microscope fixedly mounted on said plate means, a sample comparison microscope adjustably mounted on said plate means, said microscopes being independently adjustable in a vertical direction and extending upwardly from said top portion of the enclosure means, a reference wheel means rotatably mounted below said plate means in alignment with the reference microscope and having a plurality of reference fabric samples mounted on a periphery thereof, a slot disposed in the plate means below the reference microscope for exposing the periphery of the reference wheel means to the field of vision of said reference microscope, dial means connected to the wheel means and cooperating with indicia means on the front portion of the enclosure means, sample slot means extending partially through adjacent front and side portions of the enclosure means in parallel relation to the plate means for insertion of sample fabric beneath the comparison microscope into the field of vision thereof and horizontal adjustment control means to adjustably space the fields of vision mounted on said side portion of the enclosure means and operatively connected to the comparison microscope for horizontal positioning thereof on the mounting plate means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,873,149 8/32 Perez.

1,936,712 11/33 Foster 8814 X 2,161,594 6/39 Ruth 88-14 2,363,643 11/44 Cook 88-29 2,596,376 5/52 De Goeij.

2,674,152 4/54 Wilkinson 88--14 2,795,167 6/57 Pikosky 88-14 X 2,826,114 3/58 Bryan 8839 JEWELL H. PEDERSEN, Primary Examiner.

20 EMIL G. ANDERSON, Examiner. 

1. A FABRIC COMPARISON AND IDENTIFICATION APPARATUS COMPRISING, LIGHT-COMFINING ENCLOSURE MEANS, COMPARISON VIEWING MEANS ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE MEANS AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM FOR ESTABLISHING SPACED FIELDS OF VISION WITHIN THE ENCLOSURE MEANS, REFERENCE FABRIC WHEEL MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE MEANS IN OPERATIVE RELATION TO SAID VIEWING MEANS FOR EXPOSING REFERENCE RABRIC TO ONE OF SAID FIELDS OF VISION, SAMPLE SLOT MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID ENCLOSURE MEANS FOR INSERTION OF A PORTION OF SAMPLE FABRIC INTO THE OTHER OF SAID FIELDS OF VISION OF THE VIEWING MEANS, INDICIA MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID WHEEL MEANS FOR IDENTIFYING THE SAMPLE FABRIC IN RESPONSE TO POSITIONING THE WHEEL MEANS TO A POSITION WHEREIN MATCHED FABRICS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY PERCEIVED FROM THE SPACED FIELDS OF VISION THROUGH THE VIEWING MEANS, HORIZONTAL 